Monday 27 July 2015 17:34, UK
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc is hoping for a faster wicket at Edgbaston for the third Investec Ashes Test with England.
The wickets at Cardiff, where England won the first Test, and Lord’s - where Australia levelled the series - were low and slow, offering the quicks no bounce or lateral movement.
Overcast conditions did allow some swing, but the first two Tests have been hard work for the fast bowlers on both sides.
Starc admits he and his fast-bowling team-mates Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood are hoping for more bounce and carry, which will being more short-pitched bowling into play.
Starc said: “It was a good week at Lord’s, especially coming off the week we had in Cardiff. To turn around with bat and ball, to take 20 wickets on what was described by a few as pretty slow and dead pitch was, I think, a good effort from all the bowlers.
“The way Mitch bowled at the end was nice to watch as a team out on the field and to see a few of them jumping around. Hopefully there is a bit of pace in this deck behind us here, but we’ll soon find out.
“We’ve got a bit of extra pace on our side and as I said, hopefully there is a bit of pace on this wicket or it’s a bit harder than a couple of the other ones we’ve played on. So the short stuff is definitely on the menu.”
Starc believes England's team are confused about what kind of pitch will suit them.
"They're not really sure what they want to do now," Starc said. "Some of their team want batting-friendly wickets and that hasn't helped them at Lord's. They want to get their bowlers back in the game, but we've got the pace as well. It doesn't matter what they dish up. We've got all bases covered."
The pitch was uncovered on Monday and had a generous layer of grass on it, which will have the fast bowlers licking their lips. But Starc believes that the mower may well be out before Wednesday
We’ll just try and continue on from the week we had in London. It was a pretty good week for us.
"I will be surprised if it stays the way it is," said Starc. "(But) If it does, then I am sure all the quicks will be lining up."
England have confirmed one change to the team for Edgbaston, with Jonny Bairstow replacing Yorkshire team-mate Gary Ballance.
“It’s a change in the line-up. Jonny Bairstow has been in some form in county cricket, so we’ll have to have a look at him,” he said.
“We have a team meeting tonight and will probably discuss a bit about him and the change in the England order. I think any time you have the opposition changing line-ups you are obviously in a good spot.
“As I said before, we’ll just try and continue on from the week we had in London. It was a pretty good week for us.”
Ian Bell has been struggling for runs and form in the series but will move up the order to No 3 to replace the dropped Ballance with Bairstow coming in at five.
Starc said: “Bell’s struggling a little bit but he’s got a good record on his side and he had a great series against us last time we came over here.
“We’re not taking him for granted, he may be lacking a little bit of form, but it only takes one knock to get you out. So we’ll still be going hard at him, sticking to our plans and everything we’ve discussed.”
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